A new manifesto from the Left

John McDonnell the Labour MP for Hayes is drumming up support for what he is calling the May 2008 manifesto.

McDonnell,you may recall tried unsucessfully to stand against Gordon Brown in last year's leadership husting,failing to get enough MP's to back him.

This is his new manifesto

"We believe that Labour can win back the support of our people by adopting a new 2008 May Manifesto, which should include:

1.Nailing the 10p tax mistake by the introduction of a fair tax system removing the low paid from taxation and ensuring the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share

2.An increase in the basic state pension, immediately restoring the link with earnings, lifting people off means tested benefits and providing free care for the elderly

3.An immediate start on a large scale council house building programme and assistance for those facing repossession
Immediate end to programme of local Post Office closures and liberalisation of postal services

4.An end to the privatisation of our public services

5.A new pay deal for public sector workers to protect their living standards and tackle low pay

6.Abolishing tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants for all students

7.Scrapping ID cards and abandoning 42 days detention

8.Introduction of a trade union freedom bill and measures to protect temporary and agency workers

9.Rejecting the proposals to renew Trident

Stalking horses are let loose

It didnt take long.

The Tory paper are reporting on challenges to a Brown leadershipthis morning.The Mail on its front page saying

Left-winger John McDonnell has told friends he is ready to try to topple Mr Brown following Labour's disastrous showing in Thursday's local elections.

The Express meanwhile has on its front page that

DAVID Miliband was last night being urged to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership to save the party from meltdown in a general election.
The Foreign Secretary, reported to be holding a weekend “summit” with allies at his country retreat in Chevening, Kent, is seen by many as Labour’s best hope of heading off David Cameron’s resurgent Tories.

The paper claiming

The source said: “David’s going for it – he will challenge.”
Labour MP Graham Stringer said senior ministers were actively considering whether to mount a coup. He added: “These conversations are going on.”

Lions led by Donkeys.

John McDonnell is currently on Five live.

His appearence coincided with news that Labour had lost Redditch."I feel sorry for our local councillors who through no fault of their own are being kicked out of office."


He says the losses were partly to do with the fact there wasn't a leadership election to give the party an opportunity to debate policy

It is not the Tories winning but Labour losing.It is not about listening but taking action.Labour was not acting on its own principles citing the 10p tax and its policy on strikes.

The debate is about policy and if the leader cannot lead on those policies then there should be a leadership election.

He followed an exuberant William Hague who described last night's performance as spectacular.

Yes he says voters are angry with Labour but its also a positive endorsement on David Cameron.

Examined what the Tory policies were,he listed the usual Cameron line ob green issues,freedoms etc and that they wont promise anything that they cannot fund.

Is it the end of rebellion?

Update

The Labour rebels have withdrawn their budget amendement following Alistair Darling's climb down announcement

Nick Robinson calls it an humiliation for the Prime Minister reminding us that

Gordon Brown had shouted down those who told him there were many, many losers from his last Budget as chancellor and those who told him he faced a real political crisis as a result.
Today he has admitted that they were right and been forced to promise backdated measures to help 60 to 65-year-olds, childless couples and the young who don't benefit from the full minimum wage.

Meanwhile an interesting post from John McDonnell one of the rebels over at comment is free who says

It exemplifies one of the core weaknesses at the heart of Brown's administration at the Treasury, which he has now transferred to No 10. Last year, Labour MPs, the party and policy advisers were not consulted over this proposal and we now know that it came out of the blue to Brown's cabinet colleagues and even Tony Blair.

He compares it to the 75p rise in pensions which Tony Blair had to climb down over and despite all Gordon's messages at the despatch box

After 11 years of New Labour, there are still 3.8 million children living in poverty by the government's own calculation.

I have a feeling that we haven't heard the last